What Moms Want for Obama's Second Term

What moms hope President Obama will achieve during his second term as in office.

The President has been sworn in. The choirs have sung; the people have cheered. There was magic in the air, and hope abounded across the nation. But after the celebratory hugs and the inaugural ball (and we all weighed in on Michelle O.'s gorgeous Jason Wu dress), I thought it might be a good moment for some real reflection on what moms are hoping for during Obama's second term. So, in the spirit of the President's inaugural address where he concisely outlined his agenda for the next four years, I took to Facebook and asked: "If you were setting Obama's agenda, what would you — as a mom — make a priority?" Here's what my friends had to say:

On gun control laws:

"Creating laws that protect the innocent against gun-happy maniacs is something that this country desperately needs. At the moment, anyone can get a gun, even the mentally unstable. We need to find a way to keep assault weapons out of the hands of civilians, and anyone who owns a gun needs to be thoroughly screened, and then held accountable for that weapon." — Anonymous from Atlanta, Georgia

On healthcare reform"

"Healthcare is an extremely important issue [to me]. Half of my paycheck each week goes to family health insurance. Thank goodness we are a two-income household, otherwise it would be difficult to make ends meet. I have a Master's degree and make a pretty decent salary, so this is pretty sad to me." — A. from Long Island, New York

On mental health:

"I am in the social work field [and I believe that] our mental health system is a disgrace! To see on a daily basis the lack of solid resources and support, and what nurses and social workers have to do to keep people in the community hanging on by a thread is disheartening." — A.

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On employment:

"What is front and center for me and my family as President Obama enters his second term is job creation. I hope to see him put his best efforts towards creating a stable and healthy job market while continuing to rebuild the economy." — Amber from Long Beach, California

On education:

"I'm hoping President Obama makes education a larger focal point during his second term. So many families are stuck in generations of persistent poverty, and education is often the way out. I'd love to see more funding for first-generation students to get to college — that's very near and dear to my heart." — Tara from Cleveland, Ohio

"To deny education to the economically challenged is to deny access to the American Dream. I urge President Obama to fight on in his battle for financial aid that can ultimately level the playing field [for low income students]." — Kalasia

On family-oriented workplaces:

"I would love to see President Obama tackle reforming the Family and Medical Leave Act to include mandatory paid maternity and paternity leave in all states." — K. Elizabeth McCoy from Mint Hill, North Carolina

Now it's your turn. Let us know what you're hoping to see from President Obama during his second term.

Alicia Harper, M.A., Ed.M. is a single mother, freelance writer, blogger, and recent graduate of Columbia University who's now a mental health therapist. Her life is filled with all things pink, except for the one bit of blue—her rambunctious 4-year-old son. Together they make a great pair, and Alicia chronicles the trials and triumphs of being a young, single mother living in NYC at Mommy Delicious. Find her on Facebook and Twitter.

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